The Hazel Green herald. [volume] (Hazel Green, Wolfe County, Ky.) 1885-19??, 1887-10-28

ana STRIVING 10 conceai my intentions
from the United States authorities. In
July or August shall land on the soil
of Cuba with these patriots. The
Island will rise. Spanish oppression
will be driven out. Freedom for Cuba
will follow-perhaps annexation to
the United States. We shall sec.'
at needed no urging to make me
throw myself into this movement heart
and soul. Let me make u short story
of what followed. Now that it is all
over-now that Lopez, Crittendcn, and
at least an hundred of their followers
have suffered death, and two or three
| hundred more are rotting in Spanish
dungeons, / can talk coolly and cam
didly about it. The leaders were brave
enough and enthusiastic enough; but
their bravery and enthusiasm couldn't
avail with scanty arms, poor equip
ment and no artillery. We had
many good men; some others were lit
tie better than the sweepings of New
| Orleans. We landed at Morello last
month, and met several attachments
Of Spanish troops. And we whipped
them every time they came against us,
less than ten to one! But of course
this style of campaigning couldn't be
kept up. We got no recruits; the peo-
pie wouldn't rise; our numbers were
reduced by sickness and the bullet, and
at length powerful force dispersed us,
capturing Crittendcn and his detach-
mcnt. The General and 1 made our
way to the mountains; we separated one
night for safety, engaging to meet on
| the morrow at certain time and place.
The next day heard of his capture. i
was working in the fields disguised
rs n laborer, my face stained with
preparation that / got in Havana
four years ago. Three different par
| ties of soldiers arrested me, examined
me and discharged me; my disguise,
my fluent use of the language, and my
knowledge of the country, made me
absolutely secure. Why, then, you will
ask, did / risk appearing in Havana at
such time? My answer is simply:
Lopez; l wanted TO be near him; l
wanted to know his fate, and to assist
him, if possible. Once in the city,
there were hundred refugees where |
would be secure. The one l chose was
the home of jew clothier, on one of
the darkest and most obscure streets of
the city. i had struck up an odd kind
of friendship with him years before,
and l knew he would do any thing for
| me.
Now, I'll admit in advance all you'd
like to say about my subsequent con-
duct. 1t was, of course, the height Of
folly for me to mingle with all those
thousands on the Paseo yesterday. !
can only say that l should have
gone and looked upon my brave leader
and friend in his last moments, had J
knOwn that detection would follow. /
simply could not help it. And when
| witnessed his cruel death and heard
that insulting proclamation, thought
that the stones would cry out if / kept
silent! 1t was foolish, Of course; but
it was just like me to do it."
al understand you, my lad" said the
Captain. 1T was pretty hard work for
me to keep still.
"When l was arrested. my first
thought was that my hours were num-
bered. j had not been taken beyond
the Paseo before l had thought the
matter over and determined to make
all effort to escape. Beside the other
things that favored me, the very bold
ness Of the attempt made success pos
sible. was well acquainted with the
soldiery into whose hands had fallen,
and knew they would never dream of
such an attempt At the worst, n Span
ish bullet would finish me; should fail
to try it, was certain of the garrote.
You saw the attempt and its success.
The Captain who recognized and ar
rested me was one whom / had seen
shoot . wounded insurgent at Las
Pozas; and l hope you'll believe me
when l say that nothing in my life ever
gave me a greater satisfaction than to
break his head with the butt of one of
his own muskets.
81 made my way quickly and safely
back TO the Jews. He hid me so Sc
curely that was not in the slightest
danger of capture, though both his
home and shop were twice ransacked
last night by the patrol. Before day
light he visited me under ground. and
we arranged the plan of escape that
has been successfully carried into exc
cution. knew that the pursuit would
l,A hAt e., II